Planting Churches
Across America
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09/14 - Sept. 14-15 BCP Annual Council Meeting
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President's Letter
February 2010
February 2010
In my devotions this year, I’m working through the New Testament very slowly, examining a few verses each day until I receive a blessing from the Lord. I am keeping a diary of my findings. As I worked through the Sermon on the Mount, I was impressed with Jesus’ teaching about salt and light.
Salt is NaCl chemically. Combined with water, it becomes a mixture, not another compound and no discernible reaction occurs. The only way salt can lose its saltiness is for an electrical introduction to force the sodium chloride into an ionic component thereby changing the chemical composition. I like people that make things clear and here it is. It is almost impossible for salt to lose its saltiness.
Jesus uses another illustration- light. Light on a hill cannot be hidden. The smallest or faintest of lights show up in darkness. The only way to eliminate light is to hide it. Notice it says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” It doesn’t say, do good works and your light will shine. Light is God’s righteousness in us. He will get the credit for the good works when He shines on them.
What is Jesus saying in Matthew 5:13-16? He is saying, righteous people cannot be ignored because they are like salt and light.
Who are the “YOU” in these verses? I believe they are the righteous, whose righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, who thought they were the “real righteous ones.” The righteous are those who qualify as revealed in the beatitudes. The Pharisees did not qualify. They in turn diluted the law and excused their unrighteousness. They excused their lust for money, hatred of anyone that disagreed with them, and their impure thoughts by their own ungodly regulations.
Godly church planters are the opposite. They are not covetousness. They comfort others while often needing comfort themselves. They do not demand their own way but seek peace while showing mercy. When others disagree with them or despise them, they pray rather than retaliate. Church planters are the salt and light of the world.
As so is each of you who are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and have chosen to live, not for this world, but for the eternal world with Christ. YOU too are the “salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
